Shovel



Sept. 17, 1946.

A. A. L .A PQINTE `SHOVEL Filed Maren 9, 1945 3` Sheets-Sheet 1 A. A. LA POINTE Sept. 17, 1946.

SHOVEL Filed March 9, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 :lill

'lm/ENTOR. beff La Poinfe Sept. 17, 1946. A A LA POlNTE 2,407,930

SHOVEL Filed March 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 17, 1946 iJNlTE STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOVEL Albert A. La Pointe, West Hartford, Conn., as-

signor to La Pointe Engineering Gompany,

Unionville, Conn., a copartnership Application March 9, 1945, Serial No. 581,729

Claims.

This invention relates to Vpower shovels.

. -The principal object of the invention is to provide a power shovel which may be operated in combination with ,a conventional motor truck and which may be `powered by the same engine which drives the truck.

. Another object of the vinvention is to provide a power `shovel which operates in combination with a .conventional motor truck and which automatically enters into operative shoveling position when ,the truck moves in one direction and which ,automatically `dumps the shoveied material into the truck body .when the truck moves inthe opposite direction.

A further object is the .provision ci a power shovel for conventional motor trucks which may be demountably connected to the drive wheels of .said trucks and which may function in connection therewith without interfering with .the normal .operation of the truck itself and with such dumping mechanism as said truck may be provided with.

Still another `object of the invention is the provision of a powershovel of the :character described which may be utilized .in ,combination with any kind of vehicle having a pair of `drive Wheels and a body into whchto dump the .shoveled material.

A still further object is the .provisionof a power shovel ofthe character described which may be used in combination with a .pair of drive shafts or `in combination `.with a singleelongated drive shaft which is affixed .to a horizontally reciprocating mechanism of any desirable type and construction, said device being operable in connection with a dump truck, ,a railroad freight car, a conveyor belt, or in connection with any analogous device or apparatus.

yThese and other objects areattained by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is ya perspective view of the device shown in .mounting position with respect to a conventional dump truck, said device being shown in dotted lines mounted on said truck in two different positions with respect thereto;

Fig. 2 i-s a face `View of the pivot and ratchet construction of said device;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l` is a plan elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. v5 is a sectional view ofthe scoop `of said device;

Fig. -6 isa sectionalviewsimilar to that of Fig.

3 of another embodiment ofthe pivot and ratchet mechanism of the device;

Fig. 7 is aside view of la locking mechanism `for use in connection with the latch shown in simil-ar view in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a side'view of a locking Vmechanism for use in connection with the catch mechanism shown in similar view in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the device herein described and claimed is provided with a pair of arms `I0 which are pivoted at one end, as Will hereinafter appear, and which carry at their free ends a scoop II. Each arm is provided with a bracket rest or skid `I2 and the scoop is provided with `conribination skids and diggers I3. At its pivoted end, each arm I0 is aiiiXed, as by welding, to a pair of 4plates I4 which are provided with open `slots carrying a semi-cylindrical `plate I E, said `plate comprising half of the bearing by which said arm -is pivotally mounted, as will hereinafter appear. Plate I5 may be affixed to .the arm proper, as by welding, or in any other conventional manner.

Semi-cylindrical member |56 carried by latch `II which is pivoted at I8 to said plates I4, comprises the second half of said bearing by which said arm is pivotally mounted. It will b e seen that when the latch member II is lpivotally raised, a path of entry is provided through .the slots of plates I4 to half bearing I5. When .the latch I'I is lowered, the path `of entry is shut oi and half bearing I6 meets and cooperates with half bearing I5 to provide `the necessary `bearing by means of whichsaid arm I0 pivots. ,A V-shaped guide or nder I9 affixed to plates I4 straddles said latch member.

Also pivoted to plates I4 at 20 is a pawl 2l. Said pawl is shaped substantially llike an F; the top cross piece thereof comprising .thepaiwl member proper `and the longitudinal member ,22 thereof comprising part of the releasing mechanism hereinafter described. The lower and shorter cross piece 23 of said pawl is bent overat its free end into the path of movement of latchmember I'I whensaid latch member is raised. The object of this construction ris to provide `an automatic ratchet `releasing mechanism which operates when the Alatch is opened. The `relative positions of the latch member I1 and Athe cross member 23 `being as described, when 1the latch member is raised and brought over toward the rear it engages said cross member and causes .the pawl to disengage .the ratchet wheel `hereinafter described. Spring 2.4,afxed at one Ven d to plates I4 and at the other end to the longitudinal mem- Wheel 3'1 meshesv with an idler gear wheel or pinion 38 within said drum and idler 38, in turn, meshes with a second idler 39, also within said drum and idler 39, in its turn, engages the internal gear teeth 36 of said drum. A centrally apertured circular plate 4l afxed by means of screws 43 to the open side of drum 34 encloses the gear.

wheel and pinions above mentioned.

In consequence of such construction, when wheelseSl of vthe dumping truck are caused to rotate," stud shafts 33' will be caused to rotate integrally with them and so will gear wheels 3l'. By reason of the gear train which connects said gear wheels 3l with the internal gear teeth 36 of the drums34, the drums are caused to `rotate but at a much slower rate of speed. v

It will be seen thatY the bearing comprising semi-cylindrical bearings l5'and I6 is adapted to ride on sleeve 28 immediately adjacent drum 34. Acap 42 aixed to the free end of the stud shaft by means of a stud bolt 43 prevents axial displacement of the bearing and hence of the arm to which itis amxed with respect to the stud shaft.

f-In Fig. 1 the device is shown in mounting position with respect to the stud shafts 33, guides or finders I9 resting upon the stud shaft sleeves 28. When the latch members I7 are raised, an open path parallel with and adjacent to said guide members AI9 vis opened, leading to the slots in plates I4 and to the semi-cylindrical or half bearing members l5. 4'Ihe truck may be backed up, thereby causing the device and more particularly the guard members I9 vthereof Vto ride up on saidstud shaft sleeves until contact is made between said'sleeves and the'half bearings i5, or the/device itself may be pushed up upon said stud shaft sleeves by hand. YIn either case, when the stud shaft sleeves and the half bearings l are properly positioned with respect to each other, the latches l'! are returned to their normal position of rest, thereby bringing half bearings I5 into contact with said sleeves.

WhenV the device is thus properly positioned on the stud shafts as Yhereinabove described, pawls 2l engage the` ratchet teeth 35 of drums 34 in response to the tension exerted upon them Aby springs 24. rThe device is now ready tobe used.

It will be seen that when the truck is caused to move forward, arms IEI will be caused to pivot upwardly on said stud shafts until they reach the position indicated by dotted lines 5i] in Fig. 1. At this point, a bumper 5I on each side of the truck body engages said arms to bring them to an abrupt, yet cushioned stop, thereby throwing the scooped up'material, so to speak, into the truck body at a point substantiallyY forward of the arms. At the same time and pointythe longitudinal portion 22 of the pawl membersare engaged by stud posts 49 nxed in each side o-f the truck body and the pawls are thereby caused to ldisengage the ratchet teeth 35 against the tension exerted upon saidpawl by spring 24. ASimultaneously therewith, a pin 52 on one of said arms lilis en lgaged by a catch member 53 pivotedto Aone side of the truck'body by means of pivot pin 54.'v A

`down toward the grorund. The ratchet mechanism above described controls the speed of this' descent, that is, the speed of the descent will be governed by the speed at which the truck is caused to move toward the rear. When the device reaches vthe position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 1, further movement of the truck toward the rear will have no effect upon the position of said device relative to the truck. In this fashion, it is pushed into a pile of sand or gravel or any other material sought toi-be removed Aby means of the truck. When a suiiicient amount `of this material is scooped up, the truckis stopped and it is now made to move forward again. rThis has the ei'lect, as has already been indicated, of causing the arms l0 to pivot upwardly on Vthe stud shafts and hence the scoop l l to move' upwardly in an arcuate line of movement untila position such as the position indicated by the dotted lines 5B is'attained. At this point, the force of gravity exerted upon the scooped upvmaterial causes it to fall into the body of the truck; `the momentum of the scooped up material, controlled by the forward speed of the truck, carries said material toa point more or. less forward of vthe arms. These operations are continued in the mannerindicated until the work is' done. Whenit' is time to drive the truck away, the arms and scoop are brought up, into the position indicated by the dotted lines E5. As hasalready been mentioned, lever catch 53 engages and holds said arms in said position while, at the same time, stud posts 49 disengage the pawls from the ratchet wheels. The truck may now be operated in the usual manner without any interference on the part of the scoop device herein described.

' Bearing in mind that frequently the/truck in question may be required to Atraverse uneven roads or ground and that relative movementbetween thetruck body and the drive wheels may thereby be eiected, the following features .are incorporated into the mechanism: a tension spring 55 afxed at its upper end -to a bracket 56 mounted on the truck -body and at its lower end to the handle end of the catch member53,I tends to urge said catch member into uninterrupted engagement with stud pin 52 irrespective ofthe relative position of` the truck body with respect to the truck wheels. rupted engagement, a further precautionlis taken. A sliding bolt member 51 slidably affixed to the catch end of catch member 53 by means of brackets 58 locks said catch member into positive engagement with said pin 52. A pin 5S on bolt 51 engaged by springmembers 59a'on brackets 58 Y positions said bolt in'locking'or unlocking position. This locking mechanism is showne'very clearly in Fig. 8. It has its counterpart in Fig. 7. rIfhere a locking mechanism 10 constructed in the same manner and of the same parts as thelocking mechanism above described, iswaiixed to the latch members I1. It will be seen that when the bolts of said locking members 10 are placed in locking` position withrespect to guides ornders l5, they engage said Aguides and thereby eehctive- To `insureisuch uninteraromas@ ly prevent upward `or opening movement ofthe latch members. i i Y -In Fig. `E, a` slightly modified embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, a ratchet wheel i is splined to the stud shait or hub extension iii-l. This ratchet wheel is engaged by the pawl above described in the manner above described. In all other respects this embodiment is similar to the embodiment shownin Figs. l to 5, inclusive.

The invention herein described and claimed is considered to be a basic invention and many modifications may be incorporated therein without departing from the basic principles thereof. For example, although the device has been described above in connection with a motor truck having a rear wheel drive, it is clear that the device may be attached to any other kind of vehicle having a pair of drive wheels and a body into which to dump the material sought to be removed. It is immaterial whether these drive wheels are rear wheels or front wheels or wheels intermediate the front and rear. It is clear too, that the device may be made to operate at the front of the vehicle instead of at the rear. In such case, the scoop operation would take place when the vehicle moves in a forward direction and the lifting operation when it moves toward the rear. As has already been indicated, the mechanism herein described may be adapted to a pair of drive shafts or to a single elongated drive shaft mounted on a horizontally reciprocating mechanism. The dumping body need not be attached directly or indirectly to the drive shafts but may instead be a wholly separate and independent unit mounted, for example, on a conveyor belt or on railroad car trucks. The arms li! are shown to be tubular members. Obviously, this need not necessarily be the case. I-shaped members or members of other suitable shape would certainly suilice. Under certain circumstances, a single arm instead of the two arms herein described, would be sufficient. A skilled mechanic presented with a specific problem could readily determine whether tofuse one arm or two arms or, for that matter, a greater number than two arms. Other kinds of ratchet mechanisms, latch members, catch members and release mechanisms may be used without departing from the basic principles of the invention as described and claimed. Aside from ratchet mechanisms other types of mechanism may be used to effect upward movement of the arms l0. Thus, for example, one way friction grabbers similar in construction to the brake band and drum constructions of older automobiles may be used in place of the ratchet mechanisms hereinabove described.

I claim:

l. The combination with a vehicle having a body and a pair of drive wheels, of a pair of ratchet wheels connected to said drive wheels coaxially therewith, a pair of lifting arms pivtally mounted at one end coaxially with said drive and ratchet wheels, a scoop mounted at the opposite end of said arms and a pair of pawls mounted on said arms adjacent said pivoted end and engaging said ratchet wheels whereby the arms are caused to pivot upwardly raising the scoop in an arcuate line of movement from a ground position to a position above the vehicle body when the drive wheels rotate in one direction, and the arms are permitted to pivot downwardly and the scoop to return to the ground position along said arcuate line of movement in response to the attraction oli gravity when the drive wheels rotate in the opposite direction, further rotation of the4 drive wheels in the latter direction causing no vertical chang'ein the vground position of the scoop.

2. The combination with `a vehicle having a body and a pair of drive wheels, of a pair of hub extensions on said drive wheels, :a pair of ratchet wheels xedly mounted on said hub extensions, a pair of lifting-arms pivotally mounted at one end on said hub extensions, a scoop mounted at the opposite end of said arms and a pair of pawls mounted on said arms adjacent said pivoted end and engaging said ratchet wheels whereby the arms are caused to pivot upwardly raising the scoop in an arcuate line of movement from a ground position to a position above the vehicle body when the drive wheels rotate in one direction, and the arms are permitted to pivot downwardly and the scoopto return to the ground position along said arcuate line of movement in response to the attraction of gravity when the drive wheels rotate in the opposite direction, further rotation of the drive wheels in the latter direction causing no vertical change in the ground position of the scoop.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a body and a pair of drive wheels, of a pair of hub extensions on said drive wheels, a pair of ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on said hub extensions, a pair of speed reducing gear trains connecting said hub extensions to said ratchet wheels, a pair of lifting arms pivotally mounted at one end on said hub extensions, a scoop mounted at the opposite end of said arms and a pair of pawls mounted on said arms adjacent said pivoted end and engaging said ratchet wheels whereby the arms are caused topivot upwardly raising the scoop in an arcuate line of movement from a ground position to a'position above the vehicle body when the drive wheels rotate in one direction, and the arms are permitted to pivot downwardly and the scoop to return to the ground position along said arcuate line of movement in response to the attraction of gravity when the drive wheels rotate in the oppositeA direction, further rotation of the drive wheels in the latter direction causing no vertical change in the ground. position of the scoop.

4. The combination with a vehicle having a body and a pair of drive wheels, of a pair of hub extensions on said drive wheels, a pair of gear wheels xedly mounted on said hub extensions, a pair of drums having external ratchet teeth and internal gear teeth rotatably mounted on said hub extensions, a pair of speed reducing gear trains connecting said gear wheels to said drum gear teeth, a pair of lifting arms pivotally mount-V ed at one end on said hub extensions, a scoop mounted at the opposite end of said. arms and a pair of pawls mounted on said arms adjacent said pivoted end and engaging said ratchet wheels whereby the arms are` caused to pivot upwardly raising the scoop in an arcuate line of movement in response to the attraction of gravity when the drive wheels rotate in the opposite direction.

5. The combination with a vehicle having a body and a pair of drive wheels, of a pair of ratchet wheels connected to said drive wheels coaxially therewith, a pair of lifting arms pivotally mounted at one end coaxially with said drive and ratchet wheels, a scoop mounted at the opposite end of said arms and a pair of pawls mounted on said arms adjacent said pivoted end and engaging said ratchet wheels whereby the pair of release mechanismsV on said vehicle body 10 which engage said pawlsrwhen the lifting arms pivot upwardly to a predeterminedy position, causing said pawls to pivot out of engagement with said ratchet` Wheels, a catch andlocking mechanism which engages and holds said lifting arms when said predetermined position is Yreached, and a latch and locking mechanism which latches and locks said arms in said pivotally mounted position.

ALBERT A. LA POINTE. 

